Jeremy Corbyn says Labour 'united' on December election as MPs vow to defy him
4 min read
Jeremy Corbyn has insisted Labour is "totally united" on a general election - despite MPs vowing to defy him and vote against calling one.
The Labour leader said his party was ready to "get out there on the streets" and make the case to the country, after he confirmed he would back Boris Johnson's bid to hold a snap poll before Christmas.
His decision comes ahead of a crucial vote later on Tuesday on the Government’s Early Parliamentary General Election Bill, which calls for a poll on 12 December.
But a string of Labour MPs have already made clear that they will vote against the bid, with one branding it "sheer madness" to go to the country.
Flanked by the Shadow Cabinet and top Labour officials, Mr Corbyn told the BBC the party was "totally united".
"We always said we wanted an election," he said.
"We do want an election but we wanted no deal to be taken off the table, we’ve now had confirmation from all 28 EU member states that no deal is off the table so we’re going to go out there with the biggest campaign this party has ever mounted, totally united, totally determined."
And he added: "We’re going out there to fight an election campaign and I can’t wait to get out there on the streets. In every town and village in this country, Labour will be there."
But Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, a leading backer of the campaign for a second Brexit referendum, warned the Labour leader that backbenchers were ready to defy him.
"Many of us may vote against an election today," the Exeter MP told the BBC.
"A great many of the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] will, if that’s what it comes to."
He added: "The vast majority of Labour MPs think that Brexit should be resolved before another general election, through another referendum.
"If it’s not we’ll fight that general election with our hearts and souls...but you can’t expect Labour MPs to give up their principles on one debate on one issue.
"It’s not as if we haven’t made our feelings plain through our whips for weeks and months to the leadership that this is our view... and that’s why I still think that it’s not too late to go down an alternative path."
In a statement, North Durham MP Kevan Jones meanwhile made clear he would "not vote for an early General Election today" - instead urging Mr Johnson to bring his Brexit deal back to the House.
"The EU’s decision yesterday morning to grant a ‘flextension’, allowing the UK to leave before January 2020 if a deal is passed, places further importance on ensuring the bill is subject to the scrutiny it has not yet been afforded," he said.
"I would support a Programme Motion in the House, to support a timetable for the deal now before us."
Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman meanwhile tweeted: "Sheer madness to hold a General Election in December & on Boris Johnson’s agenda!"
And Redcar MP Anna Turley also made clear she would not be voting for a general election.
Addressing the shadow Cabinet on Tuesday morning, Mr Corbyn said: “I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a No Deal Brexit being off the table.”
“We have now heard from the EU that the extension of Article 50 to 31 January has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking No Deal off the table has now been met.
“We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen.”
That message was echoed by Labour frontbenchers, with Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon saying: "A General Election is coming - bring it on!
"Let's kick the Tories out by Christmas and build a society for the many, not the few!"
Shadow minister Louise Haigh added: "This election is a once-in-a generation chance to transform this country and build a radically fairer future. Bring it on."
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